Famous or Faithful?…

No matter how much I try to avoid it, every day I am reminded of man’s idea of success and accomplishments. I am reminded that someone my age should either be climbing the corporate ladder or thriving in his/her own entrepreneurial lane. Well, as of today, neither of those faces of success match me. According to my college and graduate degrees, I should be a big-time government official with clearance too high to even mention on this blog. According to man I should be on one path, but according to God, I am on another path. It took me many painful years to get to this point, but I have finally decided that I desire to follow God’s plan for my life over that of my own…and of the world’s.

As I sit on my balcony, enjoying the beautiful weather here in Frederick, I mentally acknowledge that today is day number eight of my last season of unemployment. As I said in a previous post (click here to read), God has explicitly told me that this is the last time that I will be unemployed. He has already shared what He needs me to do with my remaining time here on earth and He is steadily preparing me for that time. In this final season of unemployment, God is sending the people, resources, and education necessary for me to be able to walk into what He has called me to do. When He decides that I am ready, He will transition me out of this last season of unemployment into His new season, where I will be able to work freely and solely on what He has called me to do.

So why the post if I am so confident in my God? Because someone else needs to ask themselves the same question I ask myself often: Do I want to be famous or faithful?

Open up your bibles to Matthew 25:21.
It is always more important to please God and be faithful to Him than to be pleasing and faithful to the fleeting cares and things of this world. Ultimately, the pleasures and cares of this world will pass away; cast your net with the One who will never leave and never change. When we are faithful to Him, we will find our reward in Him.

Beloved, do not let the use of the word “or” confuse you; there are many people who are both famous (in man’s eye) and faithful to God. But I am so sure that at one point of their life, they had to ask themselves that same question of fame or faith. When we walk in the obedience of the Lord, He does reward our faithfulness with continued and abounding blessings, so it is very possible to be famous and faithful to God at the same time… but which one will come first in your life?

As you think about the order of your faithfulness, read 1 Corinthians 15:58. My former church choir used to sing this song and I promise I never understood the meaning of it until probably last year. Not only does God say in His word that when we have been faithful over a few things that He has given us, He will give more, it also says that our labor [in Him] is not in vain. Work that we do for and of the Lord will always be acknowledged by Him, even if man never acknowledges what we do.

This is an important reminder for me, personally, as I know that some of what I write/say goes unnoticed by many. I spend hours at a time writing and pouring out the words that God sends to me…and many people dismiss or brush it away because it is too “holy” or “Godly.” There honestly was a time that I wanted people to read my work so that I could become a household name; I wanted people to read the words God Happened To M.E. and literally think of Michelle Early. (Insert laugh of embarrassment.) Please believe, I still want people to read what I write…but only so that they can know God.

♥ I know that there are people in the world who are hurting, and they do not know that God is a healer- I pray that they read my words and learn of Jehovah Rapha.
♥ I know that there are people in the world who are down to their last, with more bills than money, not knowing how to make ends meet- I pray that they read my words and learn of Jehovah Jireh.
♥ I know that there are people in the world who fight many emotional and mental battles on a daily basis, struggling with addictions and substance use disorders- I pray that they read my words and learn of Jehovah Nissi.

I really did want fame at one point, and maybe God will provide that one day, but right now I just want to be faithful. I continue to write, speak, and share about God, not to bring fame to or knowledge of Michelle, but so that God can get the glory and others can learn of Him.